as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the many challenges he faced in making them a reality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balk
Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Boston scored two runs in a chaotic top of the first, which saw Jarren Duran thrown out at the plate on a Rafael Devers double, only for Devers to then score on a wild pitch and a balk by Blue Jays opener Yariel Rodriguez.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 May 2025
Kelli Bender, People.com, 1 May 2025
But with so much uncertainty over both macroeconomic conditions and trade policies, many companies have been giving downbeat second-quarter forecasts and have been withdrawing or balking at revising their full-year projections.
—Lisa Kailai Han,sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Noun
Many of these declarations were quickly followed by retractions or temporary suspensions, like a series of balks in an opaque tactical game.
—Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Boston scored two runs in a chaotic top of the first, which saw Jarren Duran thrown out at the plate on a Rafael Devers double, only for Devers to then score on a wild pitch and a balk by Blue Jays opener Yariel Rodriguez.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 May 2025
Verb
While some may balk at adding more snakes to the neighborhood, there is a good reason behind the release, which is an annual event.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 1 May 2025
But with so much uncertainty over both macroeconomic conditions and trade policies, many companies have been giving downbeat second-quarter forecasts and have been withdrawing or balking at revising their full-year projections.
—Lisa Kailai Han,sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
Noun
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Players utilize a set of common rules -- that can be altered by the game master -- and dice to overcome obstacles as the group works to collaboratively tell a story.—
Remington Miller,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2025
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Perhaps the biggest obstacle to bilateral relations is Ms. Hasina, whom India refuses to hand over to Bangladesh to stand trial on charges of corruption and human rights abuses.—
Simon Montlake,
Christian Science Monitor,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Alex Caruso, the 6-foot-5 defensive savant who spent so much of the evening frustrating the 6-11 Nikola Jokić, was the real MVP of the night (Jokić had 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, with nine rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers).—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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The naming practices can frustrate efforts to track the chemicals in food, to measure how much of the stuff people are taking in, and even to figure out precisely which chemicals a scientific study evaluated, researchers said.—
David Hilzenrath,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Noun
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That can include language hurdles, arranging child care or elder care, and significant differences in national pension or retirement programs.—
Christina Larson,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
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Lawmakers are wrestling over President Donald Trump’s multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending package, which passed in the House on Thursday, and could face hurdles in the Senate.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
Verb
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After a strikeout, Luis Castillo hit a foul fly that Moises Alou jumped for, only to have his efforts thwarted by a fan making a play on the ball himself.—
Steve Svekis,
Sun Sentinel,
18 May 2025
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Messi twice nearly broke the tie in extra time, only to be thwarted by defender Daniel Munie and goalkeeper Daniel.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Noun
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But this latest exchange had a far less satisfying denouement: an uncertain military outcome and a diplomatic embarrassment, in the eyes of Modi’s nationalist base.—
Vaibhav Vats,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2025
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Houston has lost its last six against the Ravens, including last year’s 31-2 embarrassment on Christmas Day.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Some were baffled by Perry’s dancing and said the show looked cheap.—
Courtney Lane,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2025
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The complexities of her character mirrored in her stony, resentful stare, in her grim, unforgiving mouth, will always baffle and enthrall.—
E.R. Zarevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Additionally, 24% of providers in Colorado reported incidents of obstruction over those two years, and 18% experienced threats.—
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton,
Denver Post,
22 May 2025
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Aid must flow immediately, without obstruction and at scale, because this is what is needed.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The chase reportedly ended when Buckley wrecked near the intersection of Watts and McAlister streets, an area of mostly forest about 1 1/2 miles southeast of where Buckley was first stopped.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
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The former analyst ends up becoming a critical new addition to the gang in their mission to stop the Entity from destroying the world.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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